नगरे चन्द्रहृदये रणधीरो नृपोऽभवत्
In the city of Candrahṛdaya, there was a king named Raṇadhīra.
तत्र वैश्योऽवसद्धर्मी नाम्ना धर्मध्वजो धनी
There, a virtuous and wealthy merchant lived, whose name was Dharmadhvaja.
एकदा नगरे तस्मिन्यातुभक्तो नरोऽभवत्
Once, in that city, there appeared a man who was devoted to eating flesh.
वाशरो नाम तत्रासीद्राक्षसः पुरुषादनः
There was a rākṣasa named Vāśara, a devourer of men.
प्रसन्नो राक्षसो भूत्वा यातुभक्तं तमब्रवीत्
The rākṣasa, having become pleased, spoke to that flesh-eater.
स होवाच वरो मह्यं देयस्ते पुरुषादक
He said, 'Grant me a boon, O devourer of men.'
इति श्रुत्वाकरोद्गर्तं नर बुद्धिविमोहनम्
Hearing this, the man made a pit that would bewilder the mind.
तेन रात्रौ तु चौर्येण नृपदासी वरांगना
By means of theft at night, a royal maidservant, a beautiful woman, was obtained.
सप्तपत्न्योऽभवंस्तस्य चतुर्वर्णस्य योषितः
He had seven wives, women from the four castes.
नृपदुर्गसमं गेहं रचितं तेन रक्षसा 3.2.13.
A house like a royal fortress was constructed by that rākṣasa.
चोरितं बहुधा द्रव्यं गर्ते संस्थापितं बलात्
Much stolen wealth was forcibly placed in the pit.
त्यजाम नगरीं भूप चौरविघ्नकरीं तव स्थापिता नगरे तस्मिश्चौरहिंसापराय णाः
O king, let us abandon this city of yours, which is troubled by thieves; in that city, those devoted to violence and theft have been established.
आज्ञाप्य स ययौ गेहं तैस्तु श्रुत्वा तथा कृतम्
Having given the order, he went to the house, and they, having heard what was done, acted accordingly.
राक्षस्या मायया सर्वे मोहिता रक्षिणस्तदा
Then, by the rākṣasa's magic, all the guards were deluded.
पुनस्ते प्रययुर्भूपं रणधीरं समेरयन्
Again, they went to King Raṇadhīra and informed him.
अर्धरात्रे तमोभूते स चौरो नृपमागतम्
At midnight, when darkness had fallen, that thief came to the king.
नृपोऽब्रवीदहं चौरश्चोदितार्थः समागतः
The king said, 'I am the king, and you, the thief, have come as summoned.'
मया सार्द्धं च बहुधा द्रव्यं हर सुखी भव
Take much wealth with me and be happy.
गर्तमध्ये गतो रात्रौ स्थापयित्वा नृपं बहिः
Having gone into the pit at night, he left the king outside.
भूपतिं प्राह भो राजन्गच्छ शीघ्रं स्वकं गृहम् 3.2.13.
He said to the king, 'O king, go quickly to your own house.'
इत्युक्त्वा सा तु भूपाय मार्गभेदमदर्शयत्
Having said this to the king, she showed him a different path.
आययौ सेनया सार्द्धं यत्र चौरः स्वयं स्थितः
She came together with the army to where the thief himself was standing.
संपूज्य वर्णयामास यथा जातं तथाविधि ।। विहस्याह च रक्षस्तं त्वया मे भोजनं कृतम्
Honoring him, she described everything as it had happened; laughing, she said to the demon, 'You have prepared my meal.'
अद्य भक्ष्याम्यहं सर्वान्मानुषान्दैवचोदितान्
Today I will devour all the men, impelled by fate.
चखाद बहुलां सेनां तेपि याता दिशो दश
She devoured the great army; they too fled in all ten directions.
तदा चौरः स्वयं प्राप्य भूपतिं प्राह रोषतः
Then the thief himself, having approached, angrily spoke to the king.
इति श्रुत्वा नृपश्चैव तूर्णमागत्य तत्र ह
Hearing this, the king quickly came there.
रक्षसा सह तद्गर्तं भस्मसादभवत्क्षणात्
Together with the demon, that pit was reduced to ashes in a moment.
तथा सर्वधनैः सार्धं स्त्रीभिस्ताभिः समाययौ
Thus, along with all the wealth and women, she returned.
पटहाताडितेनैव शब्देन च गृहेगृहे 3.2.13.
With the sound of drums being beaten, in every house,